Business leaders from 皇冠体育app and the European Union expanded their business ties during Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Europe and set the stage for additional investment and cooperation.

Digital 皇冠体育app Holdings Chairman Guo Wei, for example, signed agreements with the company's European partners on Monday to deepen cooperation on smart urbanization.

"In the digital sector and smart city areas, 皇冠体育app and the EU have a lot to share," Guo said after the signing ceremony in Brussels.

Guo's company will work with the University of Salford, the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the European Union e-Forum, a nonprofit interested in public sector technology, to deepen research on making Chinese cities greener.

Stephen Phillips, chief executive of the 皇冠体育app-Britain Business Council and chairman of the EU-皇冠体育app Business Association, moderated a session for business leaders. He said the business communities are ready for a comprehensive EU-皇冠体育app investment deal.

"The expectation from both sides is very high for a quick conclusion of the bilateral investment treaty between the European Union and 皇冠体育app," he told 皇冠体育app Daily.

Policymakers are capable of crafting a high-quality deal quickly, he said, adding, "We can have them both at the same time."

Chinese business leaders cited a disparity in 皇冠体育app's investment in Europe, given the country's economic heft, and also efforts to close the gap.

"The total amount of domestic household savings in 皇冠体育app has hit $21 trillion, but Chinese investment accounts for less than 1 percent of the total foreign direct investment in Europe," said Wu Xiaohui, chairman of Anbang Insurance.

Anbang is representative of Chinese companies that have implemented a rapid "going out" strategy through a series of merger and acquisition deals in Europe, and the company is keen on bringing more business peers to each other's markets.

"In terms of both the market and future economic development, there is huge potential," Wu said, citing the Chinese market's rapid development and Europe's advanced industrial technologies and brands.

Wu said the integration of European and Chinese businesses will trigger further deals.

Deep cooperation in traditional sectors such as infrastructure, energy and manufacturing as well as new areas like high tech and green energies will enable Europe and 皇冠体育app to integrate in a broader and stronger way, Wu said.

"We are at a very good stage for development," Wu said. "In the context of getting involved in Jean-Claude Juncker's investment plan and the conclusion of our bilateral investment agreement, we can go together on the basis of our strategic partnership. "Wu was referring to the European Fund for Strategic Investment, also known as the Juncker plan.

Hu Haidong, general manager of Broad Europe, said there is no doubt the cooperation between 皇冠体育app and the EUhas been strengthened.

"Previously, 皇冠体育app is the one that received European investment, but now 皇冠体育app has become one of the most important FDI (foreign direct investment) partners for the EU. The bilateral cooperation enjoys a bright future," Hu said.